Suspected murderer dies before facing trial (GALLERY)

Sandra Roche holds a photograph of her mother, Pluma Bell Sanford, who was found murdered in her home on Aug. 15, 1997. Harry Bernard Leach, who was arrested and awaiting trial for Sanford’s murder, died of lung cancer June 16, just weeks away from his next court date.

ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

By ANGEL McCURDY / Daily News

Published: Monday, June 24, 2013 at 06:21 PM.

FORT WALTON BEACH — For nearly 16 years, Pluma Bell Sanford’s daughters hoped they would see the man responsible for their mother’s death sit in court. They wanted to hear a jury tell him he was guilty of capital murder.

For a few months, they felt the relief of an arrest and a pending trial, but now they feel cheated.

On June 16, after spending only a few months in jail, Harry Bernard Leach died, having never faced trial for the brutal murder of 73-year-old Sanford.

“I wanted to hear them say, ‘You’re guilty, and you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison,’ ” said Sandra Roche, the 69-year-old daughter of Sanford. “I felt like he needed to sit there longer. But it isn’t our time, it’s God’s time.”

Leach, who was 52, died of lung cancer just weeks away from his next court date. His death closed the Sanford case for good.

Sanford was found Aug. 15, 1997, in her Wright home. The 73-year-old woman had been bound with panty hose and beaten. Her face had bruises, cuts and swelling when officials found her body. They also suspect there may have been sexual assault involved.

Her official cause of death was asphyxiation, according to the medical examiner’s autopsy report.

“That was just a day that you don’t ever think would happen to you,” Roche said. “It was miserable. Somebody took my mom, my best friend. She was the person I spent every weekend with and suddenly someone had taken her away.

“It was like someone had just torn out my heart and it was so hard going all those years without an arrest.”

It took more than 15 years for an arrest to be made.

In January 2013, a DNA match was found for Leach, who was serving time in a Missouri prison. He was extradited to Florida for the capital murder trial.

“While they were hoping for their day in court, they feel some comfort in knowing he didn’t get away with it,” said Assistant State Attorney Angela Mason, who was assigned to the case. “He died knowing he was caught.”

Leach, officials say, was a repairman for Sanford at the time of her death. His DNA was found on a crocheted kitchen towel found at the scene.

Marie Walton, Sanford’s youngest daughter, says she still talks to her mother even though it has been almost 16 years since her death. She tells her about the big and the small things in life from new babies to middle school graduations.

Even if the case had gone to court, 65-year-old Walton says it wouldn’t make up for the time she lost with her mother. She said it won’t make up for her never getting to say goodbye.

“Sure, they could have gotten a guilty verdict, but that wouldn’t give us her back,” Walton said. “His passing has given us some peace.

“This has been like a cloud over us that we couldn’t do anything about.”

FORT WALTON BEACH — For nearly 16 years, Pluma Bell Sanford’s daughters hoped they would see the man responsible for their mother’s death sit in court. They wanted to hear a jury tell him he was guilty of capital murder.

For a few months, they felt the relief of an arrest and a pending trial, but now they feel cheated.

On June 16, after spending only a few months in jail, Harry Bernard Leach died, having never faced trial for the brutal murder of 73-year-old Sanford.

“I wanted to hear them say, ‘You’re guilty, and you’ll spend the rest of your life in prison,’ ” said Sandra Roche, the 69-year-old daughter of Sanford. “I felt like he needed to sit there longer. But it isn’t our time, it’s God’s time.”

Leach, who was 52, died of lung cancer just weeks away from his next court date. His death closed the Sanford case for good.

Sanford was found Aug. 15, 1997, in her Wright home. The 73-year-old woman had been bound with panty hose and beaten. Her face had bruises, cuts and swelling when officials found her body. They also suspect there may have been sexual assault involved.

Her official cause of death was asphyxiation, according to the medical examiner’s autopsy report.

“That was just a day that you don’t ever think would happen to you,” Roche said. “It was miserable. Somebody took my mom, my best friend. She was the person I spent every weekend with and suddenly someone had taken her away.

“It was like someone had just torn out my heart and it was so hard going all those years without an arrest.”

It took more than 15 years for an arrest to be made.

In January 2013, a DNA match was found for Leach, who was serving time in a Missouri prison. He was extradited to Florida for the capital murder trial.

“While they were hoping for their day in court, they feel some comfort in knowing he didn’t get away with it,” said Assistant State Attorney Angela Mason, who was assigned to the case. “He died knowing he was caught.”

Leach, officials say, was a repairman for Sanford at the time of her death. His DNA was found on a crocheted kitchen towel found at the scene.

Marie Walton, Sanford’s youngest daughter, says she still talks to her mother even though it has been almost 16 years since her death. She tells her about the big and the small things in life from new babies to middle school graduations.

Even if the case had gone to court, 65-year-old Walton says it wouldn’t make up for the time she lost with her mother. She said it won’t make up for her never getting to say goodbye.

“Sure, they could have gotten a guilty verdict, but that wouldn’t give us her back,” Walton said. “His passing has given us some peace.

“This has been like a cloud over us that we couldn’t do anything about.”